300 words, prompt: a birthday surprise

Dragon Slayer

By MD1016, for PureBloodMuggle

Charlie sat stunned, legs bent and sprawled before him, arms locked behind him to hold him up.

"I knew you wouldn't take this at all well," she said, her English distinctly Irish, with the thick timber of a richer language below it. He'd always known she was exotic – stunning was how he thought of her; stunning physically, mentally, magically – but this…this was beyond anything he might've imagined.

"You're angry then, are you?"

"No," he said, and swallowed hard. "Startled, is all. I'm good."

"Yeah?"

"So, then, you're an Animagus?"

"Looks like." She slipped her dressing gown back on and tied it tight around her waist. She ran a hand through her straight brown hair, and quirked a brow up at him. He love it when she did that. "Breathe, Charlie."

"Right." He stood and tried to collect himself. "I've never dated an animagus."

"So, we're still dating, are we?"

"You're breaking up with me?" he asked, incredulous. "Did you turn yourself into a dragon in hopes of scaring me off? Because dragons don't scare me, Ramona."

"No? You're white as a sheet."

"Yeah, well…" His hands went to his hips, and then he remembered the small box in his pocket. He pulled it out and considered the gold wrapping and bright red bow. "Here," he said. "Happy birthday."

She ripped through the paper and threw the ribbon to the wind. She lifted her gift and watched it dangle from one finger. A thin chain and a prancing dragon charm. The precious metal was as shiny and gold as her hide had been. "And you didn't know? Honestly?"

He ducked his head and gave her a shy grin. "Animal instinct?" he said by way of explanation.

She laughed, and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh, Charlie, luv, you slay me."